Chapter 66

66. The Third's Skill (8)

“Gasp...”

“What? It's already over? I expected it, but it's too quick.”

Luna put her sword away.

The duel with Gordner.

It ended with Luna's victory.

It was a one-sided duel.

To the extent that the proud Gordner couldn't even think of getting up.

‘Damn! What kind of monster is this girl?’

Luna had used the hilt of her sword from halfway through, which was fortunate.

If it had been a real duel, he would have been dead.

‘But in the end, I'll be the one standing, you stupid girl.’

Whether she won or lost the duel, she had already calculated everything.

Smirk.

Gordner, kneeling on one knee, bowed his head.

Luna saw it.

The faint smile on his face.

‘Smiling?’

Just as Luna sensed something strange, the entrance to the duel arena became noisy.

“Huh? What is it?”

“Is someone there?”

“Someone in the duel arena?”

Two groups of children rushed in.

The Teron faction and the Yuridia faction.

And they also noticed.

Luna and Gordner standing on the duel arena.

“Were they in the middle of a duel?”

“What? Gordner lost?”

“No, wait. There are only two of them? Where's the witness?”

“What? Did they have a duel without a witness?”

The children started to chatter, each saying a word.

But the situation was not hard to grasp.

Yuridia clicked her tongue.

‘Tsk, I had a feeling he would demand this...’

Late at night.

Teron's suggestion to have a conversation for the development of the first-year students.

The conversation proceeded with a slight distance, and as they walked, they arrived at the duel arena.

‘He wants to show what happens to those who defy him.’

It was almost like a public execution.

Luna also noticed the situation.

He wants to expel her from the academy.

“Lord Teron! I didn't lose! That girl used a dirty trick!”

“Hey! When did I do that?”

“She was the one who drew her sword first and swung it! I'm the victim!”

“You were the one who hit an innocent child first!!”

Gordner screamed.

A sound no different from a pig being slaughtered.

But Gordner didn't care about such things.

What was most important now was to assert that he was the victim.

‘Haha, you're finished now.’

Luna, who violated the rules, would be expelled from the academy.

His own honor as the victim would be restored, and he would firmly establish his position in the Teron faction through this incident.

Just as he thought everything was going perfectly, Teron spoke.

“It's difficult with the two of you having such conflicting opinions.”

“Lord Teron...?”

“What about continuing the duel? Until one of them...”

Teron's eyes glinted ominously.

“...admits their fault.”

* * *

“L-Lord Teron? What do you mean...”

That's right. What Teron was after wasn't just expelling Luna from the academy.

He wanted something more.

Teron wanted to socially and physically...

‘Execute her.’

He wanted to completely finish her off.

“Teron, what do you mean? Continue the duel?”

“Though it's a bit harsh to say, those idiots fought without a witness, didn't they? As everyone knows, Gordner is a friend who works with me.”

It was natural for him to take Gordner's side.

But.

“I can't just blindly support him. I need to be fair. Isn't that one of the principles of the Anwood Academy?”

At first glance, Teron might seem like a good person.

Even though his subordinate was involved, he was willing to handle the situation fairly.

But Yuridia knew.

The real meaning behind his words.

“...So, you want to continue the duel until one of them admits their fault?”

“Yes. Wouldn't that be fair?”

“What's fair about it! The winner takes all in a duel! What if the winner lied?”

Teron laughed loudly.

“Winner takes all. Isn't that how the world works? You should be grateful for this opportunity.”

Yuridia quickly calculated.

An illegal duel between students. He claims he will handle it fairly.

The justification is on Teron's side. What about the practical benefits?

If Gordner wins, Luna will be expelled from the academy, bearing the blame.

If Gordner loses, he will be expelled from the academy.

No matter what, Teron won't suffer directly.

On the contrary.

‘He wants to instill fear in the children by showing an execution.’

It means that Teron will benefit no matter the outcome.

That's why Yuridia couldn't accept it.

“But there's no witness! We don't have the qualifications to be witnesses. It means the duel can't continue.”

“So, it's fine if there is a witness, right?”

“Huh? What do you mean...”

Teron took something out of his pocket.

A wooden plaque. A plaque with the word "Witness" (公證) engraved on it.

“This is the witness plaque I received from Mr. Leang. I am currently a proxy witness, qualified to perform the role.”

Yuridia's face turned pale.

‘Teron, you bastard. Just how far have you planned this?’

Yuridia turned around.

She refused to be a mere pawn in someone else's plan.

“I'll bring the teacher. As a proxy witness, you should take responsibility for it.”

Teron grabbed Yuridia's wrist.

“Let's not make this a big deal, Yuridia.”

“...”

“The duel today will be as if it never happened. No one will get hurt.”

No one will get hurt? Impossible.

What Teron was saying was...

“After all, you won't lose anything. Or do you really want to fight me? For the sake of that child?”

That's right. The one who would get hurt would be Gordner or Luna.

One of the two. Yuridia wouldn't suffer.

But.

“You said it would be as if it never happened. What if Luna wins?”

“It will be as if it never happened. The fact that we had a duel today will disappear. It's not good for us either.”

Yuridia clenched her fist.

If Luna wins, nothing will happen.

Teron will only gain a sense of fear.

It wasn't a bad deal.

‘Luna, hang in there.’

Yuridia decided to trust Luna.

But she didn't know.

She was already...

Trapped in the trap Teron had set.

“Now, let's continue the duel. You must prove your innocence yourself.”

“Lord Teron...?”

Gordner's expression was dazed.

He hadn't heard about this plan.

He was told that if he could make Luna draw her sword first, he would take care of the rest.

“What's going on...?”

“Gordner, I trust you. Show the honor of a noble.”

“Huh?”

“Surely you won't surrender? You are a noble, after all.”

Gordner, with a dazed expression.

Teron whispered in his ear.

“Don't give up.”

Only then did Gordner realize.

He was also...

Trapped in the trap.

* * *

Thud! Thud!

“Ugh, ugh...”

Gordner groaned.

How many times had she hit him with the hilt of her sword? His flesh was torn, and black blood flowed out.

“Hey! Quickly admit you lost!”

“I, I didn't lose...”

“You, you really...!”

It had been 30 minutes since the duel resumed.

Gordner was being beaten one-sidedly.

Yet, he didn't declare defeat.

If he fought Luna, he would be beaten to death.

If he gave up, he would be expelled from the Teron faction.

The problem was that his father was a vassal of the Bueren family.

‘Father...’

If he was expelled, his father's position would also be at risk.

For his father, giving up was not an option.

“Gasp...”

“He fainted.”

“He hasn't admitted defeat yet. Wake him up and continue the duel.”

The children splashed water on Gordner's face.

Gordner couldn't even stand up. He only opened his swollen eyes while lying down.

This was the third time he had fainted.

If this continued, Gordner might die.

“This... This isn't a duel.”

The duel Luna knew wasn't like this.

Noble and honorable.

That was a duel.

But there was none of that here.

What they were doing was not a duel but a group bullying.

And now everyone realized Teron's true intentions.

‘Proxy duel.’

He wanted someone else to fight Luna in place of Gordner.

But to have a proxy duel, there had to be a valid reason.

Elderly, children, those suffering from illness, or those on official duty.

In such cases, a proxy could be appointed.

And there was a special clause.

‘If designated as a proxy, one can execute the proxy duel.’

Luna would designate someone else.

This clause was created for the nobles.

A place more dirty and full of incidents than anywhere else.

Sometimes a simple love affair could turn into a war.

This clause was created to prevent such things.

To end the fight on the duel field.

‘The designated person has the right to refuse, so it's practically a useless clause.’

But.

In the current situation, it was an extremely useful clause.

Luna designated Teron. Then.

‘A real duel’ would begin.

“Come on...”

Gordner mumbled while lying down.

But Luna couldn't swing her sword anymore.

‘Luna, no! Hold on! Absolutely don't say those words!’

The children in the class knew.

Luna, despite her harsh words, had a gentle heart.

Luna looked up at the sky. She realized.

Ah, that's it. This is.

‘A trap to draw out Zero.’

Using her to somehow draw out Zero.

A warning that if she joined the Teron faction or defied him, this would happen.

Luna was shocked.

-Luna, don't get involved with the Teron faction.

-Rescuing a bullied weakling is also forbidden.

‘So, Zero had anticipated this situation.’

The advice given in the ant nest.

How far into the future he could see, it was astonishing.

Luna finally realized. Zero.

Had been protecting her all this time.

But look at what she was doing now.

‘I've messed everything up.’

If she fell into the trap, she would be drawn into the Teron faction.

Because of her thoughtless actions, Zero would also suffer.

‘The proxy duel is a trap.’

A final trap that would strangle both her and Zero.

If she fell into it again, it would be more than just stupid.

But.

If she did nothing, Gordner would become disabled or die.

She had to make a choice.

‘I have two choices now.’

Declare defeat, take the blame, and be expelled.

Or declare a proxy duel and continue the fight.

Teron's skills were unknown, but Zero had told her.

‘Teron, Dyke.’

Not to really fight them.

But Luna made her choice.

‘I will designate a proxy.’

She didn't want to be expelled. She had goals to achieve at the academy.

‘It's fun.’

Life at the academy with Zero was so enjoyable.

Enough to comfort the past ten years.

She wanted to continue her academy life with Zero. So, the first choice was out.

She chose the second option, the proxy duel.

Of course, she wasn't completely thoughtless.

‘I will break his neck.’

Defeat the leader of the Teron faction and secure Zero's safety.

Gordner, lying down, gasping for breath.

Luna passed by him. And.

Squish.

She pointed her sword at Teron.

“Stop pretending to be noble and come at me.”

I'll tear you apart.